Incandescent-lamp socket.



M. V. SMITH.

INCANDESCENT LAMP SOCKET.

. APPLICATION FILED OCT-1?, 1914.

Patented Feb. 15, 1916.

wzw

srs

MARTIN v. SMITH, OF HARTFORD,- CONNECTICUT, ASSIGNOR T JAMES E.HAMILTON,

. or SIMSBUR-Y, CONNECTICUT.

INCANDESGENT-LAMP SOCKET.

Specification of Letters Iatent.

Patented Feb. 15, 1916.

Application filed October 17, 191-4. Serial No. 867,107.

'tain new and useful Improvements, in Incandescent-Lamp Sockets, ofwhich the fol lowing is a specification.

This invention relates to incandescentlamp sockets, the object of theinvention being to provide a simple and effective article. of thischaracter which canbe readily and quickly connected with a wire or wiresor similar conducting means and by which an incandescent-lamp can beput-into electrical connection with said conducting means of whatevernature the same may be.

In the drawings accompanying and formingpart ofthe presentspecificationI have shown in detail one of the several convenient forms of embodimentof the invention, which to enable those skilled in the art to practisethe same will be set forth fully in the following description. I do notrestrict myself to this particular disclosureg'I may depart therefromin' several respects within the scope of the invention defined bytheclaims following said description.

Referring to said drawings: Figure 1 is.

an elevation of an incandescent lamp socket, involving my inventlon,showing part of a lamp connected therewith. Fig. 2 is a central verticalsection of said socket. Fig. 3

is a similar view of the body, the section,

however, being taken at right angles to that 'of Fig. 2 and the socketmember only appearing. Fig. 4 is a top plan view of asocket member. Fig.5 is a bottom plan view of a clamping-member. Fig. 6 1s a top plan viewof a bridge-member, and, Flg. 7

is an elevation of the base portion of the.

lamp shown in Fig. 1.

Like characters refer to like parts throughout the several figures.

The device involves in its construction a suitable support, the body 2answering in this respect and being of some non-conducting material,such for instance as porcelain, fiber or composition. This body 2 isprac tically hollow, and it incases certain parts hereinafter moreparticularly'described. In

the lower part of tilt body is a chamber as 3 (shown ascylindrical) andwhich is adapted to receive a socket-member such as the shell 4. Thissocket member or shell 4 is of some conducting material such as copperor brass; While the base member of the lamp 5 might be connected withthis socket- 1 member or shell 4"in any desirable manner, .I prefer thatthe connection be a screwthreaded one, the said socket member or shell 4being mternally threaded to receive the external threads of thecontact-shell 6 of the lamp 5, said lamp being provided with 3 has aslot8 therein of approximately rectangular form, the lower end of whichintersects substantially centrally, the chamber 3, the upper wall of theslot being presented by the top 9 of the body 2., Said slot S'receivesas will hereinafter appear, for slidmg movement, a jaw or clampingmember and a bridge-member both preferably of some insulating substancessuch as one of those hereinbefore mentioned. The upper wall of thechamber 3 at opposite sides of the longitudinally-extending slot 8presents seats or shoulders for receiving the inturned annular flange 10of the socket mem her or shell 4. This socket-member may be held inposition in any desirable manner, for instance by screws 4 extendingthrough perforations 11 in the flanged portion thereof and tapped. intothe upper wall of said chamber 3, this being one of several convenientways of securing the socket-member 4 in place. The exterior .of saidsocket mem her is spacedor slightly separated from the adjacent wall ofthe chamber, 3 for a rearier for practically'duplicate contacts such asthe pins 13 and 14, the'shank of said pins being rigidly connected withthe bridge member or carrier 12 and means being provided to electricallyconnect them with the terminals of the lamp 5. Said pins are sharpenedto present barbs or spurs, extending in parallelism with each otherlongitudinally of the body 2 and being advancible by and on theinsertion of the lamp 5 into the socket member 4 which action in theconstruction shown is secured, by an upward thrust imparted by the lampwhen it is inserted in the socket member 4. Extending through the bridgemember or carrier 12 is a sleeve or hollow rivet 15,- the upper edge ofwhich is spun or otherwise fitted in a countersink in the upper surfaceof the bridge member 12, the lower enlarged head 16 of said sleevefitting against the under sideof the bridge member which provides asimple means of holding said bridge mem ber in place. The sleeve 15 withits head 16 is of some conducting material such as'brass and constitutesa suitable central contact.

Fastened suitably to the top of the bridge member 12 is a conductingstrip 17, the ends of which are connected electrically with theconducting sleeve 15 and pin 13. The pin 14 is connected with the bentover upper end of the conducting strip 18, the body of this strip 18extending downward between one edge-of the bridge member 12 and into thespace between the socket member 4 and body 2, the lower bent free end ofsaid conducting strip or finger 18 having a slidable electrical contactwith the exterior surface of said socket member 4 from which, as will beinferred, there is a constant electrical connection between the pin 14and socket member 4. In like manner there is a constant electricalconnection between the pin 13 and head 16, the bridge member or carrier12 insulating the two pins from each other.

The, insulating'body 2 at its upper end has opposite notches 19 and 20,the overhanging upper portions 21 and 22 of said body 2, constitutingsuitable fixed jaws against which the wires 23 and 24 are clamped aswill hereinafter appear, the under or inner sides of these jaws 21 and22 having seats 25 and 26 to receive the two wires. Mounted in the upperpart of the slot 8 for slidable movement longitudinally of the body 2 isthe jaw member 27 having perforations 28 therethrough to receive thepins 13 and 14. The jaw member 27 has notches 29 and 30 in its upperside complemental with the notches 25 and 26 respec-* tively.

The top 9 has an approximately central perforation 31 to receive thebutton 32 of some suitable insulating material, the lower end of thisbutton having a bearing against the upper surface of the bridge member27. Connected rigidly with the button 32 is the shank or pin 33whichextends freely through a central perforation in the bridge member 27 andwhich is fitted in the sleeve 15, the screw 34 tapped into the lower endof the pin 33 and the head of which fits against the sleeve 15constituting a convenient means for normally rigidly connecting the pin33 with the bridge member 12, by virtue of which, said bridge member canbe operated by the pin 33 and consequently by the button 32. Interposedbetween the bridge mem-- ber 12 and the jaw 27 is the expanding or pushspring 35 which constantly tends to separate said parts 12 and 27.

When no lamp is connected with the socket the parts will occupy thepositions shown in Fig. 2. To connect a lamp, through the interventionof the socket, with wires, the following procedure may be adopted: Thebutton 32 will be pressed in thereby moving the jaw member 27 inward, sothat the wires can be passed into the opposite apertures or notches 19and 20, and when said wires are in the seats 25 and 26, the button willbe released, so that the jaw member can be advanced by the spring 35,compressed by the inward motion of the aw member, to there by clamp thetwo wires and necessarily connect the socket with said wires. When thisis accomplished the base of the' lamp 5 will be inserted in the socketmember 4 and when the base of the lamp engages the head 16, the latterand hence the bridge member 12 will be elevated or thrust outward, thepins 13 and 14 being moved in a corresponding direction and being causedto penetrate the insulation of the wire, so that the pointed ends of thepins can be brought into electrical connection with the cores of thewires at which point the terminals of the lamp are in circuit with thesaid wires, and if the circuit is closed, the lamp will be lighted. Todetach the socket the lamp will be run out a short distance relievingits pressure upon the head 16 and the button 32 will-be pushed inward,so that the clamping member 27 is correspondingly moved to free the twowires. By continuing the motion the button through the describedparts-can thrust the bridge member or carrier 12 inward, therebypositively moving the pins 13 and 14 from out of the insulation of thewires.

It will be'noted that the means by which the contact means, comprisingthe contacts 13 and 14 in the present instance, are proj ected intoelectrical connection with the conducting means, operates independentlyof the clamping means for said conducting means by which the conductingmeans can be first clamped in operative relation with the socket 2 afterwhich the contact means can be moved into electrical connection with theconducting means.

. What I claim is:

1. An incandescent lamp socket comprising means for connection therewithof wires, means for the connection therewith of an incandescent-lamp,contacts insulated from said contacts with the terminals of saidlamp'when said lamp is connected with said and on the connection ofsaid. lamp with said body.

2. An incandescent lamp socket comprising means for clamping wiresthereof, means for the connection therewith of an incandescent-lamp,contacts insulated from each other, means for connectin'gsaid contactswith the terminals of said lamp when the latter is connected with saidsocket, andmeans for simultaneously movlng said contacts into electricalconnection with said wires.

3. An incandescent lamp socket comprising means for clamping wiresthereto, means for the connection therewith of an incandescent lamp,contacts insulated from each other, means for electrically connectingsaid contacts with the terminals of said lamp when the latter isconnected with said socket, and means for moving said contacts intoelectrical connection with said wires by and on the connection of saidlamp with said body.

4. An incandescent lam socket comprising means for connection t erewithof wires,

means for the connection therewith of an incandescent-lamp, abridge-member having contacts, means for electrically connecting saidcontacts with the terminals of said lamp when the latter is connectedwith the socket, the bridge member being in position to be operated bythe lamp by and on the connection thereof with said body for caus I ingsaid contacts to be moved into electrical ated by the lamp on theinsertion of the base thereof into said socket-member, for

advancing said contacts. 7

6. An incandescent lamp .socket compris- 'ing a socket-member, andhaving means for the connection therewith of wires, a pair of contactsinsulated from each other, means actuated by the lamp on the insertionof the base thereof into said socket member, for moving said contacts.into electrical connection with the wires, and means for moving thecontacts awayfrom the wires.

7. An incandescent lamp socket comprising a socket-member and havingmeans for the connection therewith of wires, a pair of contact pinsinsulated from each other, and means actuated by the lamp on theinsertion of the base thereof into said socket member, for pushing saidcontacts through the insulation of the wire. I

8. An incandescent lamp socket comprising a socket-member and havingmeans for the connection therewith of wires, a pair of contact pinsinsulated from each other, means actuated by the lamp on the insertionof the base thereof into said socket member, for pushing said contactsthrough the insulation of the wire, and means for moving said contactpins out of the insulation.

9. An incandescent lamp socket comprising an insulating body, a movablebridge member in the body, and contacts on the bridge member, the bodyhaving openings for the passage of said contacts.

10. A lamp socket having means for the connection therewith ofconducting means, contact means, and means actuated by the lamp on theconnection thereof with said socket for moving said contactv means intoelectrical connection with said conducting means. I

11, An incandescent lamp socket comprising a non-conducting body, asocket member of conducting material set into said body, a movablebridge member in the body, a pin extending from the bridge member, anelectrical connection between said pm and socket member, a second pin onthe bridge member, the'latter having a central contact adapted to beengaged by the central end contact of the lamp and the central contactof the bridge member being electrically connected With'said second pin.

12. An. incandescent lamp socket comprising a non-conducting body havinglateral apertures, one side of each of which constitutes a jaw, amovable jaw member in the body, the terminals of which cooperate, withthe other jaws to clamp wires, means for retracting said jaw member,cont'acts, the jaw member having openings to receive said contacts, andmeans whereby said contacts can be moved into electrical connection Wlthsaid wires. 13. An 1ncandescent lamp socket commeans for the connectiontherewithof an incandescent lamp, contacts insulated from.

prising means for clamping wires thereto, a

each other, means for connecting said con- I tacts with the terminals ofsaid lamp when the latter is connected with the .socket, and meansactive independently'of the clamping means, for moving said contactsinto electrical connection with said Wires.

14; An incandescent lamp socket comprising means for clamping wiresthereto, means for the connect1on therew1th of an incandescent lamp,pointed contacts insua 15. An incandescent lamp socket provided withcontacts insulated from each other, means for the connection of saidcon- In testimony whereof I aflix my signature tacts with the terminalsof a lamp whefii in presence of two witnesses.

the latter is connected with the socket an i v means for clamping Wiresto the socket and MARTIN M 5 for moving said contacts into electricalcon- WltIlGSSES'I nection with the Wires after the wires have L. L.MAR-REL,

been clamped. HEATH SUTHERLAND.

